The John Cooper School Celebrates The Woodlands' 50th Anniversary

In celebration of The Woodlands’ 50th anniversary, The John Cooper School hosted a celebratory event underscoring Cooper’s longstanding and historic connection to the community.

The John Cooper School recently hosted an event to commemorate The Woodlands' 50th anniversary and highlight Cooper's historic connection to the community.

On October 10, 2024, at the start of the Dragon's football game against SPC rival St. Mark's (Dallas), the 50th Anniversary festivities kicked off with a symbolic coin toss by Jim Carman, President, Houston Region for Howard Hughes, Richard Franks, Board of Directors, The Woodlands Township, and Dr. Stephen Popp, Head of The John Cooper School.

"We appreciate The John Cooper School's support for The Woodlands 50th anniversary and commemoration of this milestone during the coin toss," said Jim Carman. "The John Cooper School is integral to The Woodlands' educational legacy, which will continue for future generations."

In 1988, Cooper faculty and students placed a time capsule to mark the School's founding. The time capsule, located behind a brick in The Mitchell Lower School, contained a collection of mementos from that era. The School is dedicating a new time capsule as part of The Woodlands 50th Anniversary festivities, symbolizing a new chapter in the School's history and its forward-looking vision as "A School for the Future, Rooted in Tradition."

On October 8, 2024, Head of School Dr. Stephen Popp met with alumni who were involved in Cooper's founding. They were deeply moved as they reunited, reminisced about the items they contributed to the original time capsule, and shared their experiences.

"When I saw the items I contributed as a student back in 1988, it brought back so many memories of our early days here," said Cooper alumnus Erin Cassidy '01. "Being a part of those early years, we knew we were a part of something special, but seeing it now, I realize how much George Mitchell's vision for The Woodlands—and the School—has come to life. The School has grown, just like the township, but at its heart is still that spirit of innovation, connection, and community that Mitchell instilled. It's a legacy we're all proud to be a part of."

The 1988 time capsule offered a glimpse into the past, filled with letters and artifacts reflecting life at The John Cooper School during its early years. The alumni and former staff present reflected on the School's evolution and how their contributions then helped pave the way for its future.

The event was particularly significant given the School's historic ties to The Woodlands. The land for The John Cooper School was donated by George P. Mitchell, the community's founder, whose vision helped establish the area as a thriving educational and cultural hub. This event not only marked the 50th anniversary of The Woodlands but also highlighted the School's role as an educational cornerstone in the community.

Dr. Stephen Popp, Head of School, commented on the event's importance, saying, "The 1988 time capsule is more than just a snapshot of our school at that moment; it embodies the enduring spirit of innovation, intellectual inquiry, and creativity that defines the Cooper experience. We not only honor the legacy and tradition of our founding as we dedicate a new time capsule, but we also look forward to a future brimming with boundless opportunities for our students. We are fortunate to share our history with The Woodlands."

Event Highlights:

The dedication of the new time capsule serves as a symbolic gesture of the school's commitment to its mission and future generations. It contains items reflecting present-day life at The John Cooper School, capturing the essence of its evolving traditions and its continuing partnership with The Woodlands community.

The John Cooper School's mission is to provide a challenging education in a caring environment to a diverse group of select students, enabling them to become critical and creative thinkers, effective communicators, responsible citizens and leaders, and lifelong learners.

Visit johncooper.org to learn more.

The John Cooper School

The above is the detailed content of The John Cooper School Celebrates The Woodlands' 50th Anniversary. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!